New DUI Technology Might Mean Criminal Defense Lawyers Finding a New Niche

Criminal Defense lawyers might have to find a new niche in the next few years, as the battle against drunk driving rages on. As the number of incidents decline, so will the availability for new DUI defense cases! New technology can detect alcohol in a driver’s system before he/she can even start their car, can help police detect alcohol vapors inside a moving car, and ridesharing platforms offer more convenience than ever for those who have drank too much to drive themselves home.

Technological Advancements Can Stop Drunk Driving Before You Start Your Car

New technologies being developed can intelligently detect a driver’s Blood Alcohol Content before allowing them to start the vehicle. According to an article in USA Today, touch devices and breath analyzers will be able to instantly recognize the BAC of the driver so that it doesn’t inconvenience the driver and become a nuisance to the overall driving experience, and so that it isn’t a more “embarrassing” feature like current ignition interlock devices being used today. However, this feature doesn’t look to be coming out soon, as the first cars to have these systems are 5-8 years away, and show no signs of being universally implemented in all vehicles. The article states that these systems will be part of optional safety features much like systems in cars with automatic braking, eyesight, and lane departure warnings.

Does Uber’s Increase In Popularity Decrease the Number of Drunk-Driving Incidents?

Why else might criminal defense lawyers have to find another niche? Well, the rise of Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing platforms have made transportation easy to secure for those out enjoying alcoholic beverages. With this new found availability for getting home safely, one might assume that the number of DUIs or drunk driving accidents would decrease.

Here’s where we have some good news for Criminal Defense attorneys specializing in DUI defense, albeit bad news for overall public safety: the number of DUIs and cases involving a drunk driver has not decreased since the rise in popularity of ridesharing services, according to CNN. One offered explanation in the article is that those who are intoxicated are already not thinking rationally, and might think that driving their own car home is free, they won’t get caught, they aren’t too drunk to drive, or that they don’t want to return the next day to retrieve the vehicle they left behind. All of course are not good excuses in a court of law, but suffice to explain why ridesharing has not decreased the number of drunk driving incidents.

Laser Beams Stopping Drunk Drivers?

Another possible way police might be able to detect drunk drivers is with laser beams! Scientists in Poland have developed a laser that can detect alcohol vapor in a car as it passes by, much like how Police use radar guns to detect the speed of drivers as they pass by. This, according to the Huffington Post, is still in its early development stages. It also can be tricky to use as the laser can only detect alcohol vapor in the car, not which person in the car it is coming from, which can be a passenger in the front seat or back seats.

One thing is for certain, scientists across the globe are working hard to eradicating drunk driving for the betterment of safety in society! But, DUI specializing attorneys might consider focusing their practice on other matters.

Souces:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/08/device-laser-alcohol-cars_n_5453696.html

http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/29/technology/uber-drunk-driving/index.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/07/06/new-technology-to-prevent-drunk-driving/29125417/